Post by Gold Hoya on Nov 29, 2007 15:43:57 GMT -5

Wow, we're starting early this season. Only a bit more than 300 days to go in the countdown to a full century of irrelevance.

With Jock gone, I am not sure whether Marquis or Dempster becomes my current least favorite Cub. The real drama of the next two years is whether Felix Pie manages to grab the title for a bit before Soriano holds down the fort from 2011-2014.

"You can give a [expletive] about what you're doing, or we can just do some conditioning. Make your layups." -- John Thompson III.

Post by FormerHoya on Dec 5, 2007 12:56:58 GMT -5

Goodbye Omar Infante, we hardly knew ye.

Good riddance Will Ohman, we knew you way too well.

I read that the Reds are interested in Mark Prior. I can't imagine that Mark Prior would be excited about being reunited with the manager that helped speed him to being just another brokedownCubspitcher.

Post by dajuan on Dec 12, 2007 10:46:15 GMT -5

From Baseball Prospectus: "If the Cubs let these kids play — perhaps integrating Ryan Theriot and Matt Murton in platoons of various kinds — this could quite easily be the best lineup in the National League."

Well that's good news, but oh God, I am not looking forward to another year of complaining about our batting order. Just move Soriano down for crying out loud!

Post by dajuan on Dec 13, 2007 12:42:02 GMT -5

I wanted Prior to be hurt in the Cubs organization until he retires in 2015. Too bad my dream won't come true.

It's bittersweet to see him go. I'm glad that we don't have to endure any more towel sessions, simulated games and speculation at his return date, but I'm disappointed at his career with the Cubs (obviously) and terrified that he might someday return to form and bite us in the ass.

Post by Gold Hoya on Dec 13, 2007 17:09:12 GMT -5

Not sure if you guys got to Page 280 of Mitchell yet:

Matt Karchner pitched for two teams in Major League Baseball between 1995 and 2000, the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox. Members of my investigative staff contacted him as part of our effort to interview former major league players.

Karchner said that during spring training in 1999, he observed two of his Chicago Cubs teammates inject themselves with steroids in an apartment that Karchner was sharing with them. Karchner declined to identify the players. He said that one of the players brought the steroids to the apartment but was afraid of needles and therefore asked the second player to administer the shot. The second player injected the first player with steroids in the buttocks and then injected himself.

Later that season, Karchner was offered steroids by certain of his Cubs teammates. Karchner would not disclose the names of players who offered him steroids, but he said that the conversations he had with them involved the general cost of steroids and discussions of “stacking” to build lean muscle necessary for pitchers. Karchner did not report either of these incidents to anyone at the time.

"You can give a [expletive] about what you're doing, or we can just do some conditioning. Make your layups." -- John Thompson III.

Post by FormerHoya on Dec 13, 2007 17:31:32 GMT -5

goldhoya said:

Not sure if you guys got to Page 280 of Mitchell yet:

Matt Karchner pitched for two teams in Major League Baseball between 1995 and 2000, the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox. Members of my investigative staff contacted him as part of our effort to interview former major league players.

Karchner said that during spring training in 1999, he observed two of his Chicago Cubs teammates inject themselves with steroids in an apartment that Karchner was sharing with them. Karchner declined to identify the players. He said that one of the players brought the steroids to the apartment but was afraid of needles and therefore asked the second player to administer the shot. The second player injected the first player with steroids in the buttocks and then injected himself.

Later that season, Karchner was offered steroids by certain of his Cubs teammates. Karchner would not disclose the names of players who offered him steroids, but he said that the conversations he had with them involved the general cost of steroids and discussions of “stacking” to build lean muscle necessary for pitchers. Karchner did not report either of these incidents to anyone at the time.

Slow day?

I'm assuming that if Karchner was sharing an apartment with the guys then they were scrubs.

Also, if they were afraid of needles, then they couldn't have been members of the Cubs staff for long...

Post by hoyarooter on Dec 13, 2007 21:41:22 GMT -5

formerhoya2 said:

goldhoya said:

Not sure if you guys got to Page 280 of Mitchell yet:

Matt Karchner pitched for two teams in Major League Baseball between 1995 and 2000, the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox. Members of my investigative staff contacted him as part of our effort to interview former major league players.

Karchner said that during spring training in 1999, he observed two of his Chicago Cubs teammates inject themselves with steroids in an apartment that Karchner was sharing with them. Karchner declined to identify the players. He said that one of the players brought the steroids to the apartment but was afraid of needles and therefore asked the second player to administer the shot. The second player injected the first player with steroids in the buttocks and then injected himself.

Later that season, Karchner was offered steroids by certain of his Cubs teammates. Karchner would not disclose the names of players who offered him steroids, but he said that the conversations he had with them involved the general cost of steroids and discussions of “stacking” to build lean muscle necessary for pitchers. Karchner did not report either of these incidents to anyone at the time.

Slow day?

I'm assuming that if Karchner was sharing an apartment with the guys then they were scrubs.

Also, if they were afraid of needles, then they couldn't have been members of the Cubs staff for long...